Retriever for submerged articles



April 8, 1952 1.. E. PERKINS RE TRIEVER FOR SUBMERGED ARTICLES FiledDec. 1, 1949 i v IN VENTOR.

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Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relatesto improvements in retrievers for submerged articles.

There are many instances wherein it is necessary or desirable to locateand retrieve articles which are submerged in relatively deep water.

This is frequently impossible without resort to diving equipment, andthe latter entails a considerable expense. In my Patent Number2,479,021, issued August 16, 1949, is disclosed a retriever forsubmerged relatively light weight articles, said device being relativelysimple and connectable to. articles which are susceptible of lossoverboard.

The Weight of the article which may be retrieved by the retrieverdisclosed in my Patent 2,479,021 is necessarily limited to the strengthof the cord incorporated therein. In order to maintain a desirablerelatively small unit size, it is necessary to use relatively lightweight cord in the retriever of my prior patent, and for this reason,said retriever is best adapted for retrieving relatively light weightarticles such as casting rods, guns or the like. I

With the above in mind it is a general object of the present inventionto provide an improved retriever for relatively heavy submergedarticles? such as boats, airplanes, mines, large outboard motors or thelike.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved retriever ofthe class described wherein the weight of the article which may beretrieved is not limited by the strength of the cord incorporated in theretriever.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved retrieverwhich is provided with means for preventing operation until after theretriever has been submerged to a predetermined depth.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide animproved retriever of the class described comprising a sleeve memberadapted to be permanently connected to the article to be retrieved andtwo buoys which form caps for the opposite ends of said sleeve member,there being a relatively long line connecting said buoys through saidsleeve member, and there being means in the sleeve member responsive tothe action of water thereon for simultaneously ejecting the buoys fromthe sleeve member.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedretriever of the class described wherein the buoys normally formwatertight covers for the open ends of the sleeve member, and whereinthe sleeve member is provided with an intermediate opening having aspring loaded valve normally sealing said opening, said valve beingresponsive to a predetermined pressure to permit water to enter saidbody after the retriever has been submerged a predetermined depth.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide a deviceof the class described in which the buoys of the device are normallyheld in position on the sleeve member and against the tension of a pairof springs by a replaceable cartridge, the retrieving line beingpositioned within the cartridge, and the cartridge comprising spacedheads which are normally connected by material which is readily rupturedor disintegrated when submerged in water.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedretriever of the 'class described which, upon submersion in water,releases the buoys thereof so that they may travel up to the surface ofthe water, said buoys being interconnected by a retrieving line whichextends through the sleeve member, whereby a relatively heavy line maythereafter be connected to one end of the retrieving line in place ofone of the buoys and may be drawn down through the sleeve member andback up to the water surface by a pull on the opposite end of theretrieving line. Thus the recovery of a relatively heavy, submergedarticle may be accomplished by lifting said article with relativelyheavy rope.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed which is positive in operation, neat in appearance,inexpensive to manufacture, and well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved retriever for submerged articles, and all of its parts andcombinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification,illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of theinvention, and wherein like characters of reference designate the sameparts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevaticnal view of the improved retriever,parts being broken away and shown in longitudinal vertical section; and

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a submerged boat on the bottom of a lake,the sleeve member of the improved retriever being connected thereto, andthe buoys oi the improved retriever being on the surface of the waterand interconnected by a line which extends through the said sleevemember.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeralindicates a sleeve member which is open at both ends and which is formedwith an internal annular shoulder S intermediate the length thereof.Telescopically positioned in the opposite open ends of the sleeve member5 are buoys 'I and 8. The buoys I and 8 are each preferably formed of acylindrical cup ped member 9 having a wall I I at one end thereof and ofa cup shaped cover member I 6 closing the open outer end of the cupshaped member 9 and sealingly and fixedly connected thereto, as bywelding or thelike, so that said buoys will float. In lieu of the hollowmetal buoys illustrated and described, buoys of wood, cork or otherbuoyant material may be used.

Secured to the inner side of the wall II of the buoy 8 is a U-sha-pedspring clip I2 having oppositely disposed legs I3. The legs I3 areapertured, as at I4, to receive a transversepin. I 5.

An. elongated replaceablecartridge It extends longitudinally withinthesleevemember 5'. The cartridge I 5 includes a pair of oppositelydisposed heads I1 and I8 which are preferably circular in shape. Theheads I I and I8 are connected by a release member I9 which ispreferably tubular and cylindrical, and which is glued or otherwisesecured to the heads as at 20 and 2|. The member 19 may be formed ofmaterial which is weakened or disintegrated by the action of water.

The inner ends of the heads I7 and I3 are formed with portions ofreduced external diameter-to receive thereon tubular-cylindricalcardboard containers 22 and 23, which are positioned within the tubularrelease-.member; I9, and which have their inner ends abutting, as shownat 24. Positioned within the container 23v is a roll 25 of relativelylight weight line" which isconnected at one end to the pin I5 as shown.Positioned in the container-22 is a roll of relatively light weight line26 which has one end interconnected with the opposite end of the roll25, as at 21. The opposite end of the roll 26 is connectedto a p n 28extending transversely through the head IT as shown.

Fixed to the outer wall of the head IT are a plurality of hook members23. Fixed to the inner surface of the wall II of the buoy I are aplurality of pivotally mounted bell crank levers 30 having hook portions3| on the axially extending arms thereof engageable with the hooks 29,as shown. A flat spring 32 preferably engages the radially extendingarms of the levers 38 and urges the hook members 3| into engagement withthe hooks 29. Positioned within the sleeve member 5 and normally locatedin compressed condition between the inner wall II of the buoy I and oneside of the internal shoulder 6 is a helical spring 33. Similarlypositioned between the inner wall II of the float 8 and the other sideof the shoulder 6 is a helical spring 34.

The sleeve member 5 is formed adjacent the internal shoulder 6 with anexternal generally cylindrical boss 35 having a cylindrical recess 36therein. A pair of apertures 31 and 38 afford communication between therecess 36 and the interior of the sleeve 5. The boss 35 is formed at itsupper end with an inwardly projecting annular flange 39 as shown.Positioned in the recess 36 is a helical spring 40, and positioned atthe outer end of the spring 40 and urged into sealing engagement withthe annular flange 39 is a pad or valve disk 4 I.

The inner end of the head I8 may be formed with a recess 42 to receive aquantity of dye 43 which may be in capsule, pill or powdered form, saiddye being held in the recess 42 by a layer 44 of paper or the likecovering said recess and cemented to the inner wall of the head Itadjacent the margin of the recess 42. The layer 44 may be of anymaterial which is disintegratable by water contact, such as ordinaryfilter paper or the like.

In use,- the improved retriever is connected to an article, such as theboat shown in Fig. 2, by any suitable means. Upon submergence of thearticle to which the retriever is connected, no water enters the body 5of the retriever until said retriever is submerged to a predetermineddepth, since the buoys I and 8 form watertight covers for-the ends ofthe sleeve 5. The predetermined depth-is that depth at which the waterpressure moves the disk 4I inwardly off of its seat on the flange 39 ofthe boss 35 and against the tension of'the spring 40..

When the. disk.4 I is pushed inwardly away from its seat, water ispermitted to flow around the edges of said disk 4|, through the recesses35, 31 and 38 and into the interior of the body 5. Upon exposure to thewater entering the body 5, the release member I9 begins to disintegrateand soon it is no longer'able to withstand the forces exerted by thesprings 33 and. As a result, the release member I 9 will break along theline of abutment 24 of the cartridge-members 22 and 23, and the springs33 and 34 will then expand and eject the buoys 'I and 8 from the ends ofthe body member, 5. The floatswill then rise to the surface of the waterby reason of their buoyancy and will assume positions such as thoseshown in Fig. 2.

Asan aid in locating the submerged article and thebuoys I and 8, the'paper on the head I8 will distintegrate upon exposure to the water andrelease the dye 43. The dyewill then color a relatively large area. ofthe water surrounding the buoy 8 and render said area much easier tolocate.

In travelling toward the surface, the buoys and 8 unwind the-rolled uplines 25 and 26, respectively. Since the lines 25 and 26,areinterconnected, as at 21, the buoys I and 8 are interconnected by asingle line which also passes through the sleeve member 5. A relativelyheavy rope or cord may then betied to the upper end of either of thelines 25 or 26 in place of the buoy connected thereto. A pull on theline connected to the remaining floating buoy will then cause theheavier rope to be pulled down through the sleeve member 5 and back upto the surface. The submerged boat or other article can then be raisedby means of the heavier rope.

The cartridge I6 is replaceable, and a new cartridge can be connected tothe buoy 8 by removing the pin [5, replacing the head IS with the head[8 of a new cartridge l6, and then replacing the pin I5. in theapertures I3 and in the diametrioal aperture in the head I8 of the newcartridge.

For assembly purposes the connection hooks 2i and 30 are. used toconnect the buoy I with the head ll of the cartridge I6. The improvedretriever may be assembled by placing the springs 33 and 34 in the body5, inserting the cartridge I6 (which has been previously connected tothe buoy 8) into one end of the sleeve 5, and then inserting the buoy Iinto the opposite end of the sleeve 5. Pushing the buoys inwardly causesthe hooks 30 to engage the hooks 29 and lock the apparatus in assembledcondition.

The improved retriever forms a compact unit l the recovery of submergedarticles.

It is obvious that the disc 4| and the spring so may be eliminated whereit is desired that the re triever operates regardless of the depth ofthe water in which it is submerged.

Various other changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes arecontemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A retriever comprising: a tubular body; a pair of buoys; releasableconnection means conmeeting said buoys and normally maintaining saidbuoys in engagement with said body, said means including a releasemember having a portion which is disintegratable when acted upon bywater to cause release of both of said buoys; and a line extendingthrough said tubular body and connected at each end to a separate one ofsaid buoys, said line having a normally compacted portion between itsends.

2. A retriever comprising: a tubular body; a pair of buoys; releasableconnection means conmeeting said buoys and normally maintaining saidbuoys in engagement with said body, said means including a releasemember having a portion which is disintegratable when acted upon bywater to cause release of both of said buoys; a line extending throughsaid tubular body and connected at each end to a separate one of saidbuoys, said line having a normally compacted portion between its ends;and spring means positioned to urge said buoys away from said body andoperable in response to release of said buoys to eject said buoys fromsaid body.

3. A retriever comprising: a tubular body having open ends; a pair ofbuoys; releasable connection means in said body connecting said buoysand normally maintaining said buoys in the open ends of said body, saidmeans including a release member having a portion which isdisintegratable when acted upon by water to cause release of both ofsaid buoys; a line extending through said tubular body and connected ateach end to a separate one of said buoys, said line having a normallycompacted portion between its ends; and spring means in said bodypositioned to urge said buoys outwardly from said body openings andoperable in response to release of said buoys to eject said buoys fromsaid body and openings.

4. A retriever comprising: a tubular body having an internal annularshoulder and having open ends; a pair of buoys; a line extending throughsaid tubular body and connected at each end to a separate one of saidbuoys, said line having a normally compacted portion between its ends; afirst spring in said body positioned between said annular shoulder andone of said buoys; and a second spring in said body positioned betweensaid annular shoulder and the other of said buoys; and releasableconnection means in said body connecting said buoys and normally holdingsaid buoys in the open ends of said body in a manner to compress saidsprings, said means including a release member which is positioned so asto be subjected to the expanding stresses of said springs and which isconstructed of material which is unable to resist said stresses andtherefore ruptures when acted upon by water; said springs, upon ruptureof said release member. being operable to eject said buoys from saidbody in opposite directions.

5. A retriever comprising a tubular body having spaced openingscommunicating with the interior thereof; a pair of buoys; a connectionmember in said body normally connecting said buoys and normallymaintaining said buoys in position in said openings; spring meansnormally in compressed condition and normally urging said buoys awayfrom said body, said connection member being subjected to the expandingstresses of said spring means and being constructed of material which isunable to resist said stresses when acted upon by water; and a lineextending through said tubular body and connected at each end to aseparate one of said buoys.

6. A retriever comprising a cylindrical tubular body having open ends; apair of buoys; a connection member in said body normally connecting saidbuoys and normally maintaining said buoys in position in said open ends;spring means normally in compressed condition and normally urging saidbuoys in opposite directions away from said body, said connection memberbeing subjected to the expanding stresses of said spring means and beingconstructed of material which is unable to resist said stresses whenacted upon by water; and a line extending through said tubular body andconnected at each end to a separate one of said buoys.

'7. A retriever comprising a tubular body having open ends; a pair ofbuoys; a connection member in said body normally connecting said buoysand normally maintaining said buoys in position in said openings; aspring means in said body normally in compressed condition and normallyurging said buoys in opposite directions away from said body, saidconnection member being subjected to the expanding stresses of saidspring means and being constructed of material which is unable to resistsaid stresses when acted upon by water; and a line extending throughsaid tubular body and connected at each end to a separate one of saidbuoys.

8. A retriever comprising: a tubular body having open ends; a buoynormally forming a watertight cover for each of said open ends; meanswithin said body normally holding said buoys in sealing engagement withsaid body in said open ends, said means being releasable in response tothe action of water thereon; a line connecting said buoys; an opening inthe sidewall of said body; and a valve normally sealing said secondopening and responsive to a predetermined pressure to admit water intothe interior of said body when the retriever is submerged.

9. A retriever comprising: a tubular body having open ends and having aninternal annular shoulder intermediate said ends; a first helical springpositioned in said body with one end in abutment with said annularshoulder, said spring having an outer diameter not substantially smallerthan the inner diameter of the body and said shoulder having an innerawasno diameter not substantially smaller than the inner diameter ofsaid spring; a second spring substantially identical with said firstspring positioned in said body with one end in abutment with theopposite side of said annular shoulder; a pair of buoys; a lineextending through said tubular body and connecting said buoys, said linehaving a normally compacted portion between its ends; and a connectionmember normally connecting said buoys and normally holding said buoys inthe open ends of said body in a manner to compress said springs, saidconnection member being subjected to the expanding stresses of saidsprings and being constructed of material which is unable to resist saidstresses when acted upon by water.

LAYTQN E. PERKINS,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

